Tree suspension grenade-i



' April 1947. c. R. WEINERT TREE SUSPENSION GRENADE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1945 Fig. 2.

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INVENTOR Car/ R We BY M2214 dMkQI/Cbl ATTORN EY Patented Apr. 22, 1947 Federal Laboratories, Inc., Pittsburgh, corporation of Delaware Pa., a

Application July '25, 1945,;ser'ia1iNo. 666368 .6 Claims.

. 1 V This invention relates to a tree suspension grenade device of the kind wherein a grenade containing a signaling charge or other charge can be launched into the 'air and entangled in a tree.

The invention "will be described as employing a smoke grenade which may be launched and entangled in a tree so as to be readily visible to air observers. However, the invention is useful in entangling other grenades such as fragmentation grenades, high explosive grenades, white phosphorus grenades, gas grenades, etc., in attacking enemy concealed in trees.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the grenade device in position on a launcher placed on the end of a muzzle of a rifle and ready for launching into the air;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the cartridge containing a folded cord and weight; and

Figure 3 is a plan View of the expansible ring which forms a part of the means for preventing the grenade firing mechanism from operating until the grenade is launched into the air.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the grenade 2 may be of any suitable kind, as for example, a hand grenade containing a smoke emitting charge. The grenade has the usual firing mechanism including a safety pin 3 and a safety pin ring 4 and a safety lever 5. When the safety pin 3 or the lever 5 is in the position shown in Figure 1, the grenade firing mechanism connot operate. The lever 5 is held against the grenade by a ring 6. This ring is formed by a metal strap portion 1 and a spring '8 connected to the ends of the portion 1. In launching the device, the ring 6 slides downwardly over the grenade body thereby releasing the lever 5 and allowing the grenade firing mechanism to operate.

An adapter 9 has a tubular portion and spring fingers i l which fit over a bead l2 formed at the bottom of the grenade thereby connecting the grenade and adapter. The adapter has an annular stabilizing fin l3. The adapter receives a launcher it which is clamped on the end of a gun muzzle l5. The launcher has rings which make a friction fit with the interior of the tubular portion ID of the adapter.

A cartridge ll, connected by a strap IE to the grenade, contains a folded cord [9. One end 29 of the cord is connected to a weight 2| and the other end 22 of the cord is connected to the strap is 'crimpfed in as shown at '23 to support the weight 2|. I

The cartridge If! atiits top has a 'metal c'ap 24 "of usual construction and a primer 25. An explosive chargeiii is located'below the ."primer and adapted to be ignited by the primer. Thebharge 26 is held in place by a wad 21. A tube 28 is secured to the top of the cap 24, the tube containing a sleeve 29 and a firing pin 30. A safety pin 3| connected to a safety pin ring 32 extends through holes in the tube 28, sleeve 29 and firin pin 3|]. A shear wire 33 also extends through holes in the tube 28, sleeve 29 and firing pin 30.

The operation of the signaling device is as follows. When a blank cartridge is fired in the gun having the muzzle [5 the gases cause the grenade 2, cartridge ll and adapter 9 to be projected into the air, the adapter sliding over the launcher IA which remains fixed to the gun muzzle l5. The force exerted upon launching the device causes the expansible ring 6 to slide down over the surface of the grenade 2 thereby releasin the lever 5 and allowing the grenade firing mechanism to operate. It will be understood that before the device is launched the grenade firing mechanism safety pin 3 and the cartridge firing mechanism safety pin 3| have been removed. The release of the lever 5 causes the firing mechanism to operate and the grenade to emit smoke. The force exerted upon launching the device also causes the firing pin 30 of the cartridge I! to shear the wire 33 thereby allowing the firing pin to strike the primer 25 and to ignite the explosive charge '26. The ignition of the charge 26 causes the wad 21, cord l9 and weight 2| to be expelled from the cartridge. When the weight 2| leaves the cartridge, it uncrimps the crimps 23. The extension of the cord and the displacement of the weight in relation to the grenade presents a length of cord [9 which may entangle in a tree thereby suspending the signaling device in the tree.

It will be understood that when the device is launched, the grenade 2 and adapter 9 remain connected together. Thus the spring clip H is merely a convenient means for connecting the adapter and grenade. If desired, the grenade and adapter could be made as one unit.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment which has been given merely by way of illustration, but may be otherwise embodied or practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tree suspension grenade device comprising a grenade containing a charge, a firing mechanism for the grenade charge, locking means for the grenade firin mechanism, a cartridge connected to the grenade, a folded cord and a weight and an explosive charge in the cartridge, a firing mechanism for exploding the cartridge charge, one end of the cord being connected to the weight and the other end of the cord being connected to the grenade, the grenade firing mechanism and the cartridge firing mechanism being operative upon launchin the device to ignite the grenade charge and to explode the cartridge charge and expel the cord and weight from the cartridge so that the cord may entangle in a tree.

2. A tree suspension grenade device comprising a grenade containing a charge, a firing mechanism for the grenade charge, locking means for the grenade firing mechanism, said locking means including a ring slidable relative to the grenade to release the grenade locking means upon launching the device, a cartridge connected to the grenade, a folded cord and a weight and an explosive charge in the cartridge, a firing mechanism for exploding the cartridge charge, one end of the cord being connected to the weight 4 and the other end of the cord being connected to the grenade, the cartridge firing mechanism being operative upon launching the device to explode the cartridge charge and expel the cord and weight from the cartridge so that the cord may entangle in a, tree.

3. A tree suspension grenade device according to claim-2, in which the slidable ring of said looking means is expansible.

4. A tree suspension renade device according to claim 2, in which the slidable ring of said looking means includes a spring.

5. A tree suspension grenade device according to claim 1, in which the cartridge firing mechanism includes a firing pin and a shear wire holding the firing pin, the shear wire adapted to be sheared by the firing pin by the force exerted upon launching the device.

6. A tree suspension grenade device according to claim 2, in which the cartridge firing mechanism includes a firing pin and a shear wire holding the firing pin, the shear wire adapted to be sheared by the firing pin by the force exerted upon launching the device.

CARL WEINERT. 

